Forgive me for being a bit over sensitive, but I hope that you will find this funny not offensive.

In some ways, I would like to think that this is more old school (HA!) and that people don't really have these stereotypes anymore about homeschooling, but then I realized how many times I have heard these things this last semester and I think, just like a soccer mom stereotype, a homeschooling stereotype is still around.

However, day 5, I would change. No one has ever called me/us strange to our face. Generally we get an "Oh" or "Huh" followed by a silence. But all the other questions I have been asked and I realized that the older our kids get the more questions we get asked. I would also add in there, "Do you have to be a registered teacher to homeschool" and "Is it less/more expensive to homeschool." (The answer to the first question is no, depends on the state but you can have a supervising teacher or take ITBS, and the second question is varying, I think it is expensive but that is me remembering that you only had to pay a $25 in-service fee when going to PS and buying books for HS costs more than $25.)

I am sure I ask similar questions about things that I am unfamiliar with. And honestly, I don't mind being asked these questions either because then more awareness about homeschooling the better! :)!

The 12 Days of Home-Schooling ~ author unknown
(To the tune of “The 12 Days of Christmas”)

On the first day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Can you home school legally?”

On the second day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the third day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the fourth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you homeschool legally?”

On the fifth day of home school my neighbor said to me, “YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the sixth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the seventh day of home school my neighbor said to me, “Look at what they’re missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the eighth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Why do you do this? Look at what they’re missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the ninth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “What about graduation? Why do you do this? Look at what they’re missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the tenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “I could never do that! What about graduation? Why do you do this? Look at what they’re missing? How long will you home school? YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E.? Do you give them tests? Are they socialized? Can you home school legally?”

On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Can they go to college? I could never do that! What about graduation? Why do you do this? Look at what they’re missing? How long will you home school? YOU<

Maybe this is not a strange as I think it is... in the last 10 years we have received 3 free cars... AND now we are about to receive, for free, our 4th vehicle... is this normal?

True, we are not being given brand new cars that last forever but they have all been great working cars that we have subsequently taken to their grave and then for some reason, others want our near death vehicles and we have given away 3 cars to other people and they attempt to resuscitate them. (True, we "sell" them for 2 lattes, so they aren't technically "free" but hey.)

The camry, we gave to a couple, and it worked for a while then went really bad and they gave it to a nephew who is tearing it apart for fun. The Ranger Truck had a busted head gasket and was in Ames last time we heard, maybe at the junkyard now? The Lincoln is alive and kickin' it here in IC being used by tons of people in need of wheels. (She wasn't so bad I guess.)

So what of this new vehicle?

My sister Leah was given it to use while she is in the states next month and then told to keep it and she is giving it to us. We are trying to secure transport for it from MN and title and insurance, so if that all works it will be here soon.

So what is this new vehicle?

A minivan.

I know, I know... commence with the soccer mom* jokes. Yes, I am the person who has cursed them since we started having kids. Yes, I am the person who proudly toted my very large cars around as a very viable alternative to the minivan. Yes, I can see the logic behind them. Yes, I know many people who have them and love them. Yes, I know you will get used to it and then appreciate it. Yes, I know, I know... but I also know a couple other things...

1. It is free
2. It is a blessing

A free car is a blessing no matter what type or shape or color or style.

I was talking to a friend who had bought a minivan a while ago. I realized talking to her that, yes, all those great things mentioned above about minivans are true but that I was completely content driving the Buick. I was, and am, so thankful for the Buick because she is a great car and is big enough to fit all 3 kids comfortably and since she was free not only does that mean we don't have car payments, we don't have high insurance or taxes or anything. She is truly a blessing to our finances for sure. And I, at the time said something to the effect of, "If someone gave us a minivan, I would drive it happily." Not because it was a minivan but because it was a blessing and since, at the time, no one was offering us a free minivan, it was for the better that I despised them so, why covet?

Here we are on the verge of getting a free minivan... Truth be told, even my cold-hearted, anit-minivan heart is softened and humbled by this wonderful free gift to us. Another friend said that I would not be able to avoid being placed in the soccer mom category. That is still a hard one to swallow. BUT, the thing that overcomes any bad thoughts is thankfulness for God's provision.

God's provision sometimes comes in the form of high paying jobs, but sometimes it is in other forms... free cars, food on the table, food ever, clothes on your back, clean clothes on your back, kids, healthy kids, safe childbirths, hands that work, one good hand that works, family who love you, anyone who loves you, your health - no matter what its ailments, heat in a house, heat in a car, a house, a roof over your head, a car, a car that works with little to no maintenance, gas for the car... job to pay for the gas, any job - good or bad... Who knows, maybe it will die before we even get it, but it still was a blessing to even think that God can provide us with something, anything, a new car, from anywhere.

BUT even if you don't have ANY of those things mentioned above, the one und

Hooray! The 2nd Annual Fondue Party happened last night!

Once again, we couldn't have done it without SOOO many people's help! AND, it wouldn't have been fun without the guests! Here is my best attempt at a photo walk through... and trying to give credit where it is SO gratefully deserved!

This was just before the party started... the Raspberry Fondue table. Much thanks to Alicia H for making this delicious fondue! You could dip cigar wafers, dried apricots, pound cake, anything in this one! Shirley for the yummy dip and veggies! Becki for the fruit! Rachel for her delicious spinach dip! Thanks to Shirley for providing the pot!

This was also before the party started... the Caramel Fondue Table! This was Leslie's Fondue that was delicious! Here we also had Pomegranate Salsa, and yummy fruit from Angie! Thanks to Shirley for providing the pot!

The Chocolate Fondue Table! Always a hit and a table all to itself since everything is fun to dip in it! Thanks to Kari for this wonderful chocolate fondue! Thanks to Angie for the fruit! Thanks to Laurie for providing the pot!

This is the Pizza Fondue Table! (My apologies Tony for your eyes being closed in this one, it was the only photo I had!) I made the Pizza Fondue and Robert made the delicious breadsticks! Thanks to Abbey for the yummy chocolate rice krispies treats! Thanks to Amos and Molly who weren't even asked but SO kindly brought three wonderful cheeses and wafers! (I could never decide on a favorite, btw! They were all wonderful in my book!)

This was the Tortellini Fondue table! Jessica O made this yummy fondue! You take tortellini and heat up in the broth for 20 seconds then dip in either pesto, marinara or alfredo sauce. This table also had bruschetta and another delicious veggie dip from Shirley! Peter also made a now famous Texas Caviar recipe!

This was the best shot of the Cheese Fondue Table! Look over Peter in the greenish/yellowish chair and see the guy in the orangeish/redish shirt, who is standing in front of a door? Or do you see the thin vertical strips of a table cloth edge? That is the bar which was where we had Jonathan and Melodie's yummy Cheese Fondue with all sorts of good dippin' things! Thanks so much Leslie for the yummy veggies for this table! We also had Cranberry Salsa here and yummy fruit from Becki!

Not to forget the drinks provided by Box! And the Cider brought by Amber! And the clean up by Jessica, Melodie, Becki, Alicia, Angie and Leslie! Am I missing anyone?!! Oh! The table provided by Heather! The space heater by Shirley! And to Joe and Shirley for feeding our cuties dinner and to Dan and Wendy for watching<